Information Technology in Volkswagen: Critical Analysis of Themes Identified

Running head: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Business management
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Information technology is an integral part of the contemporary automobile industry due
to the fact that modern day vehicles are not positioned and marketed as the mode of
transportation; rather they are now offered as smart transportation solutions. Thus, role of
artificial intelligence and information technology is more in the automobile sector in the current
time than it was a few years ago. From the interview of Martin Hoffman, CIO of Volkswagen
group, the key themes identified are the quantum computing, artificial intelligence and intelligent
mobility (Linke et al. 2017). It is identified that the CIO of Volkswagen viewed the modern day
vehicles as the contributor in solving the traffic woes. He is of the opinion that the modern day
vehicles should have the self sufficiency of analyzing the traffic situations and thus information
technology will have important role to play in the contemporary mobility solutions
(Papageorgiou et al. 2014).
This essay will discuss about the company overview of their recent history of the
information technology being practiced in Volkswagen along with the critical analysis of the
themes identified. In addition, the issues and problems of the company in regards to the
information technology and on the basis of these issues, a few recommended steps will be
discussed.
Overview of the IT history of Volkswagen
In the recent time, Volkswagen is trying to integrate the information technologies in their
business practices and process. This is due to the reason that in the recent time, connected cars
are being introduced by Volkswagen. The success of the connected cars by Volkswagen in the
market is the proof that they are having the history of incorporating information technology in

2BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
their cars. It is also identified that Volkswagen is having their information technology research
and development centers in Munich and San Francisco. These centers are responsible for the
development of the newer IT related technologies for their products. On the other hand, it should
also be noted that information technologies are being used by Volkswagen in their internal
process also. This is due to the reason that robotics are used in the manufacturing process and
thus presence of artificial intelligence is evident in the business process of Volkswagen.
Critical analysis of the identified themes
One of the major themes identified from the interview of the CIO of Volkswagen is
quantum computing, which states the development of the computer technology on the basis of
principles of the quantum theory. Thus, according to the quantum computing, minute details and
more complex calculations and algorithm can be managed. In the case of Volkswagen, it is quite
relevant in their business due to the reason that they are trying to leverage on this concept in
solving the traffic solutions (Coppola and Morisio 2016). As per the interview of the CIO of
Volkswagen, it is identified that the accuracy and swiftness required in solving the modern day
traffic woes cannot be gained from the conventional computer technologies and quantum
computing is the only way out. It is stated by him that the modern day cars should be equipped
with technologies that will help them in detecting the traffic trends and recommending the
drivers accordingly. In this case, the conventional computing system will take more than 30
minutes of time on average, which is not effective enough. However, with the use of the
quantum technology, this detection process can be done in just 3 seconds (Woo, Jo and Lee
2014).